Moving at Your Own Pace

🎣 Quick Catch

Strength isn’t always in the lift; sometimes, it’s in the pause. Knowing when to push and when to pull back takes more courage than we admit—whether in the gym, at work, or in life. Listening to your body (or your heart) isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom.

Last week, I had one of those moments that stopped me in my tracks – literally.

There I was, at my usual 5 AM CrossFit session, getting ready for a heavy lift. Everything was set up: the weights loaded, my favorite pre-workout playlist pumping through my headphones, and that familiar determination coursing through my veins.

But as I approached the bar, something felt off.

Maybe it was the recent shoulder twinge that's been bothering me, or perhaps it was my body's way of saying "not today." Whatever it was, I found myself doing something I rarely do: I stripped the weights off and stepped back.

For someone who preaches discipline and showing up (you've probably seen my posts about my 5 AM wake-ups and rigorous training schedule), this felt like failure at first. My inner critic started its usual chatter:

• "You're getting weak." 

• "You're losing progress." 

• "You're making excuses."

But then I remembered something my physical therapist told me last week: "The body has wisdom, if we're brave enough to listen."

Slowly and sometimes reluctantly, I’m learning that true strength isn't just about pushing through. Sometimes, it's about having the courage to pull back. It's about trusting that slowing down isn't the same as giving up.

This isn't just about fitness. It's about all those moments in life when we feel pressured to maintain a certain pace:

• When we're juggling motherhood with career ambitions

• When we're processing grief while meeting deadlines

• When we're healing (physically or emotionally) but life demands keep coming

The fitness world loves to shout "No pain, no gain!" and "Push through!" But you know what nobody rarely talks about? The wisdom of the pause. The strength it takes to say, "Not today," or "Not like this."

This morning, instead of my planned heavy lift, I spent time working on mobility and form. Was it as exciting as hitting a new PR? No. Was it what my body needed? Absolutely.

Every step, no matter how small or slow, is still progress. Trust your journey—it’s yours, and it’s enough.

xoxo

Miss Swedish Fish